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Sean Lamont Receives Wooden Spoon from CHAS

FORMER international rugby union player, Sean Lamont, visited Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) on behalf of Wooden Spoon, to receive a special ‘thank you’ from the families it cares for, for the children’s charity of rugby generous grant.

Wooden Spoon donated £25,000 to CHAS to help fund the refurbishment of the teenage den area at Robin House in Balloch. Prior to the redesign, the space was half the size and could only fit two beds, back to back. Now it houses a drum kit for music therapy, gaming areas that are accessible for beds and wheelchairs and a space to watch films.

Holli with Criona Knight (CHAS) and Wooden Spoon Scotland member.

The development formed part of a larger space creation project, which extended the lounge, revamped the playroom and arts and crafts areas and installed a soft play area and library, which was completed in November 2016.

Sean was also shown a gorgeous clock made out of wooden spoons, which was crafted by the children using Robin House in recognition of the children’s charity of rugby’s support.

Eilidh Grant, Activities Co-ordinator at CHAS said: “We’re delighted to welcome Sean and the Wooden Spoon Scotland team to Robin House so that they can see for themselves the incredible impact that their donation has had on the lives of the families using Robin House – particularly on our teens.

“15,400 children are currently living in Scotland with an incurable condition, and we’re receiving more referrals than ever from babies and children. And, due to medical advancements, many of our children are living much longer than we expected. So it’s vital that we have age appropriate facilities and the space to care for them. The teens we care for absolutely love the den, which has a strict ‘no adults allowed’ rule after 7pm, to give them a safe and fun environment to relax and socialise with people the same age.

“On behalf of everyone at CHAS, we’d like to extend our thanks and appreciation to Wooden Spoon for the grant, and to Sean for making the special visit to us today.”

Sean Lamont said: “It’s a great privilege to visit the projects that Wooden Spoon supports, and to see the impact the charity is having on young lives across Scotland. The teenage den at Robin House is a great facility, and I’m proud that it has been made possible thanks to the power of rugby to bring people together with a common goal to make life a little bit better for others.”

CHAS is Scotland’s national children’s hospice service and cares for families and their babies, children and young people by offering palliative care, family respite and support at its two hospices, Rachel House and Robin House. It has a CHAS at Home team, who bring its services into families’ homes throughout the whole of Scotland, as well as teams working in communities and hospitals across the country.